Poly(e- caprolactone)-poly(fluoroalkylene oxide)-poly(e-caprolactone) block copolymers as surface modifiers of poly(vinyl chloride)

Blends of poly(caprolactone-b-perfluoropolyether-b-caprolactone) (PCL-PFPE-PCL) triblock copolymers (with different length of PFPE and PCL segments) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) were prepared by casting from tetrahydrofuran solution. DSC analysis revealed a complex morphology deriving from miscibility between PCL and PVC segments. XPS analysis showed strong surface enrichment of PFPE segments for all films prepared. Treatment with PFPE selective solvent showed that the fraction of PCL-PFPE-PCL removed from surface decreased with increasing length of PCL blocks, indicating an anchorage effect by PCL segments with respect to PVC matrix